BEACHES
Turkey, the name conjures up images of stately palaces, grand mosques, exquisitely woven carpets, hamams or Turkish baths where you are pampered with aromatic oils and scents and exotic belly dancers. Beaches are usually the last things on your mind when on a visit to Turkey.
For the uninitiated, Turkey, is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south, the Black Sea on the north and the Aegean Sea in the west, happens to be dotted with breathtakingly beautiful beaches.
Beaches in Turkey tend to be underrated. But given the beach activities available, the picturesque beauty, and the historical treasure troves that they are and the wide-ranging accommodation packages, the Turkish Beaches can give any Acapulco or South Beach, a run for their money.
TURKISH FOOD
Turkey has a rich variety of cuisine that makes it worthwhile just to take a culinary tour of the country. You cannot identify one dominant Turkish food like the Italian pasta or the French sauce, but the Turks have perfected their cuisine to a fine craft that reflects their refinement of culture.
Turkey has a long repertoire of ancient recipes that was perfected by the chefs eager to please the Sultans. Turkish food is simple in presentation, its natural flavour not camouflaged by sauces; and ever since the Ottomans passed laws to regulate freshness of food, leftovers are seldom found in Turkish homes.
Bread is the main item in a Turkish meal. The basic wheat dough is baked into fresh loaves usually in the neighbourhood bakery. There are varieties of breads like the elmek, pide or manti, which is a dumpling with meat filling. Borek is special bread where thin sheets of dough are layered with cheese or meat mixes, folded or rolled and then baked or fried. Pilaf, another main dish in Turkey is fine-grained rice cooked in butter with onions, meat and vegetables.
The typical Turkish meat item is Kebab. The popular varieties of kebabs are the ‘sis’ kebabs and the ‘doner’ kebabs. Sis kebabs are grilled pieces of skewered meat. Doner kebabs are made by stacking alternate layers of ground meat and sliced leg of lamb and grilling them over slow fire. The fine taste of kebabs really depends on the breed of cattle or sheep rather than the chef or the recipe.
Turkey abounds in ‘Kebabci’s that serve authentic grilled meat. The dish served is generally an ‘Izgara’ or a mixed grill dish consisting lamb chops, ‘sis kebabs’ and ‘kofte’. ‘Kofte’ is ground meat mixed with spices, eggs and onions, shaped into balls and then fried or boiled
Among vegetables, eggplants are a special favourite. Olive oil is generally used for cooking vegetables. A special Turkish food item is ‘Dolma’. Vegetables are stuffed with rice or spiced meat fillings and cooked in olive oil. ‘Dolma’ is eaten with yogurt sauce. The best vegetable preparations are available at a ‘Lokanta’ - small eating houses where people working nearby come for a simple meal of soups, traditional main dishes and deserts..
Another category of Turkish food is ‘Meze’ or dishes to accompany alcoholic drinks as a starter. Drinking alcohol with family and friends is traditional in Turkey. Slices of honeydew lemon, fete cheese with bread, dried and marinated mackerel; savoury pastry and cold vegetable dishes are generally served as meze. The meze items vary according to the course being served
Fish is an important item of Turkish food especially in winter when the summer vegetables are scarce. The taverns along the harbour serve some of the best fish preparations. In the more fashionable restaurants you can pick your choice of fish from the kitchen and give instructions for cooking as well.
Local beer is Effes, of course there is Raki - an aniseed tasting liqueur!
It is said that travellers in Turkey, “come for the history but stay for the food”. Make sure you carry home a Turkish food item like Turkish Delight as a souvenir from Turkey.
One of the most common sights you see on your visit to Turkey is the tea house where you will find people, mostly men - drinking hot steaming tea from tulip shaped glasses. Turkey is the fifth largest tea-drinking nation in the world and has a distinct way of making and drinking tea that makes it unique.
With the change of times, the traditional tea houses are giving way to pubs that serve other interesting drinks like the ‘Boza’, but the charm of the old tea houses remain. Make sure you do not miss this unique form of hospitality when you are on a visit to Turkey.
Turkey, the name conjures up images of stately palaces, grand mosques, exquisitely woven carpets, hamams or Turkish baths where you are pampered with aromatic oils and scents and exotic belly dancers. Beaches are usually the last things on your mind when on a visit to Turkey.
For the uninitiated, Turkey, is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south, the Black Sea on the north and the Aegean Sea in the west, happens to be dotted with breathtakingly beautiful beaches.
Beaches in Turkey tend to be underrated. But given the beach activities available, the picturesque beauty, and the historical treasure troves that they are and the wide-ranging accommodation packages, the Turkish Beaches can give any Acapulco or South Beach, a run for their money.
TURKISH FOOD
Turkey has a rich variety of cuisine that makes it worthwhile just to take a culinary tour of the country. You cannot identify one dominant Turkish food like the Italian pasta or the French sauce, but the Turks have perfected their cuisine to a fine craft that reflects their refinement of culture.
Turkey has a long repertoire of ancient recipes that was perfected by the chefs eager to please the Sultans. Turkish food is simple in presentation, its natural flavour not camouflaged by sauces; and ever since the Ottomans passed laws to regulate freshness of food, leftovers are seldom found in Turkish homes.
Bread is the main item in a Turkish meal. The basic wheat dough is baked into fresh loaves usually in the neighbourhood bakery. There are varieties of breads like the elmek, pide or manti, which is a dumpling with meat filling. Borek is special bread where thin sheets of dough are layered with cheese or meat mixes, folded or rolled and then baked or fried. Pilaf, another main dish in Turkey is fine-grained rice cooked in butter with onions, meat and vegetables.
The typical Turkish meat item is Kebab. The popular varieties of kebabs are the ‘sis’ kebabs and the ‘doner’ kebabs. Sis kebabs are grilled pieces of skewered meat. Doner kebabs are made by stacking alternate layers of ground meat and sliced leg of lamb and grilling them over slow fire. The fine taste of kebabs really depends on the breed of cattle or sheep rather than the chef or the recipe.
Turkey abounds in ‘Kebabci’s that serve authentic grilled meat. The dish served is generally an ‘Izgara’ or a mixed grill dish consisting lamb chops, ‘sis kebabs’ and ‘kofte’. ‘Kofte’ is ground meat mixed with spices, eggs and onions, shaped into balls and then fried or boiled
Among vegetables, eggplants are a special favourite. Olive oil is generally used for cooking vegetables. A special Turkish food item is ‘Dolma’. Vegetables are stuffed with rice or spiced meat fillings and cooked in olive oil. ‘Dolma’ is eaten with yogurt sauce. The best vegetable preparations are available at a ‘Lokanta’ - small eating houses where people working nearby come for a simple meal of soups, traditional main dishes and deserts..
Another category of Turkish food is ‘Meze’ or dishes to accompany alcoholic drinks as a starter. Drinking alcohol with family and friends is traditional in Turkey. Slices of honeydew lemon, fete cheese with bread, dried and marinated mackerel; savoury pastry and cold vegetable dishes are generally served as meze. The meze items vary according to the course being served
Fish is an important item of Turkish food especially in winter when the summer vegetables are scarce. The taverns along the harbour serve some of the best fish preparations. In the more fashionable restaurants you can pick your choice of fish from the kitchen and give instructions for cooking as well.
Local beer is Effes, of course there is Raki - an aniseed tasting liqueur!
It is said that travellers in Turkey, “come for the history but stay for the food”. Make sure you carry home a Turkish food item like Turkish Delight as a souvenir from Turkey.
One of the most common sights you see on your visit to Turkey is the tea house where you will find people, mostly men - drinking hot steaming tea from tulip shaped glasses. Turkey is the fifth largest tea-drinking nation in the world and has a distinct way of making and drinking tea that makes it unique.
With the change of times, the traditional tea houses are giving way to pubs that serve other interesting drinks like the ‘Boza’, but the charm of the old tea houses remain. Make sure you do not miss this unique form of hospitality when you are on a visit to Turkey.
TURKISH MONEY
If you have already visited Turkey, you must have come across its amazing money. Indeed Turkish money did take your breath away with all its zeroes. It does sound incredulous too that you buy food that costs 2 million Turkish Lira; it gave you that jittery kind of feeling.
Well no more, because the Turkish government in beginning of 2007 got rid of all the zeroes in the money and reintroduced it as the YTL or the Yeni Turkish Lira. Money in Turkey is called the ‘Para’.
SHOPPING
It is impossible to think of a holiday without the thrill of shopping. Shopping in Turkey is irresistible for the wide range of unique and beautiful crafts available there. Once you see the variety of products with this "very different" and unique Turkish style, you will want to take some home to share with your friends and family. Shopping in Turkey is both entertaining and satisfying.
Shopping in Turkey is best done in the morning when the salesmen have more time. Do not begin your shopping until the third or the fourth day of your visit. You will need some time to know the currency and browse the shops. Try to be one of the first customers because Turkish shopkeepers believe that their Gods send the first customer and pleasing him or her brings good luck throughout the day. You may strike a good bargain at this time.
Bargaining for everything except food is quite customary in Turkey, but make sure you know the price of the article before you begin to get more information about the article as the shopkeeper often become irate when after trying to sell an item for some time the customer decides it is beyond his budget. You may be offered water, soda coffee or tea to drink at the shop. Do not hesitate to accept this without a sale, but if alcohol is offered, the shopkeeper generally expects a sale.
Bargaining is a skill you must master for shopping in Turkey. Be careful as the shopkeeper may hike up the price knowing you may bargain. As a thumb rule you should start with 25% of the price you are willing to pay for an article. You must hold back your real offer for as long as you can.
Another strategy is to select two items and snub the first choice. Start bargaining for the second one, which should be more expensive. Once it is obvious that it is out of your price range, reluctantly accept the first one, which should be by then readily available at a lower price. Of course, the responses will vary with each incidence, but with time and practice, you should get the hang of it.
Shopkeepers in Turkey are largely honest and will not try to pass off an imitation as the original, but it is always good to ask for a certificate of guarantee for expensive items like carpets or jewellery. While making the payment, you should know the rate of exchange that applies. Ask for a calculator and work out the amount in your own currency.
If you have already visited Turkey, you must have come across its amazing money. Indeed Turkish money did take your breath away with all its zeroes. It does sound incredulous too that you buy food that costs 2 million Turkish Lira; it gave you that jittery kind of feeling.
Well no more, because the Turkish government in beginning of 2007 got rid of all the zeroes in the money and reintroduced it as the YTL or the Yeni Turkish Lira. Money in Turkey is called the ‘Para’.
SHOPPING
It is impossible to think of a holiday without the thrill of shopping. Shopping in Turkey is irresistible for the wide range of unique and beautiful crafts available there. Once you see the variety of products with this "very different" and unique Turkish style, you will want to take some home to share with your friends and family. Shopping in Turkey is both entertaining and satisfying.
Shopping in Turkey is best done in the morning when the salesmen have more time. Do not begin your shopping until the third or the fourth day of your visit. You will need some time to know the currency and browse the shops. Try to be one of the first customers because Turkish shopkeepers believe that their Gods send the first customer and pleasing him or her brings good luck throughout the day. You may strike a good bargain at this time.
Bargaining for everything except food is quite customary in Turkey, but make sure you know the price of the article before you begin to get more information about the article as the shopkeeper often become irate when after trying to sell an item for some time the customer decides it is beyond his budget. You may be offered water, soda coffee or tea to drink at the shop. Do not hesitate to accept this without a sale, but if alcohol is offered, the shopkeeper generally expects a sale.
Bargaining is a skill you must master for shopping in Turkey. Be careful as the shopkeeper may hike up the price knowing you may bargain. As a thumb rule you should start with 25% of the price you are willing to pay for an article. You must hold back your real offer for as long as you can.
Another strategy is to select two items and snub the first choice. Start bargaining for the second one, which should be more expensive. Once it is obvious that it is out of your price range, reluctantly accept the first one, which should be by then readily available at a lower price. Of course, the responses will vary with each incidence, but with time and practice, you should get the hang of it.
Shopkeepers in Turkey are largely honest and will not try to pass off an imitation as the original, but it is always good to ask for a certificate of guarantee for expensive items like carpets or jewellery. While making the payment, you should know the rate of exchange that applies. Ask for a calculator and work out the amount in your own currency.
RELIGION
About 98% of Turkey’s population is Muslim (about two-thirds Sunni, one-third Shia). The Turkish government makes it very clear that Turkey is a secular state with complete freedom of religion.
All villages and town have mosques and you may hear the call to prayer.
HISTORY / CULTURE
Being in the centre of the birthplace of human civilization,
Turkey's history of human habitation goes back 25,000 years. Turkey has plenty to offer to history lovers. Some of the earliest-known human communities are here. Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines Crusaders, Seljuks Mongols, Ottomans and others have all left their works of art and culture in what is now the Turkish homeland. Modern Turkey has all this and more mobile phones than you've ever seen in one place before.
EVIL EYE
There is probably no culture in the world, which is free from the clutches of superstition and to counter these superstitions; in every culture you will find people taking recourse to charms and talismans. The Turkish Evil Eye Pendants or the “nazar boncugu” is the Turkish means of keeping at bay the ills brought on by envious and greedy eyes. The Turkish Evil Eye pendant has almost become a Turkish institution, given its widespread presence in the Turkish social echelons and the undying faith of the people in its protective powers, it has become a popular souvenir to bring home!
About 98% of Turkey’s population is Muslim (about two-thirds Sunni, one-third Shia). The Turkish government makes it very clear that Turkey is a secular state with complete freedom of religion.
All villages and town have mosques and you may hear the call to prayer.
HISTORY / CULTURE
Being in the centre of the birthplace of human civilization,
Turkey's history of human habitation goes back 25,000 years. Turkey has plenty to offer to history lovers. Some of the earliest-known human communities are here. Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines Crusaders, Seljuks Mongols, Ottomans and others have all left their works of art and culture in what is now the Turkish homeland. Modern Turkey has all this and more mobile phones than you've ever seen in one place before.
EVIL EYE
There is probably no culture in the world, which is free from the clutches of superstition and to counter these superstitions; in every culture you will find people taking recourse to charms and talismans. The Turkish Evil Eye Pendants or the “nazar boncugu” is the Turkish means of keeping at bay the ills brought on by envious and greedy eyes. The Turkish Evil Eye pendant has almost become a Turkish institution, given its widespread presence in the Turkish social echelons and the undying faith of the people in its protective powers, it has become a popular souvenir to bring home!
ABOUT TURKEY
Leave your ‘Midnight Express stereotypes at the door - Turkey is a rapidly modernising country who are hopefully near to be expected into the European Union. A rapidly modernising country with one foot in European and one in Asia, many British people have now moved there and adopted Turkey as there own and have bought property and live in Turkey on a permanent basis.
It’s not all oriental splendour, mystery, intrigue and whirling dervishes, and belly dancers but it is a spicy maelstrom of history knocking up against a pacy present.
The Turkish people have an unrivalled reputation for hospitality, a cuisine to die for, the coastline is a dream and many Turkish towns and cities are dotted with spectacular mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean’s bargain destinations with expected 25 million tourists for 2008.
With nearly 8400 km (5200 miles) of coastline, water sports and yachting are big favourites. Hiking, white-water rafting, mountain climbing and cycling are all important, and growing, as is skiing due to develop by 2010 in Seki, near Kemer - Fethiye.
Leave your ‘Midnight Express stereotypes at the door - Turkey is a rapidly modernising country who are hopefully near to be expected into the European Union. A rapidly modernising country with one foot in European and one in Asia, many British people have now moved there and adopted Turkey as there own and have bought property and live in Turkey on a permanent basis.
It’s not all oriental splendour, mystery, intrigue and whirling dervishes, and belly dancers but it is a spicy maelstrom of history knocking up against a pacy present.
The Turkish people have an unrivalled reputation for hospitality, a cuisine to die for, the coastline is a dream and many Turkish towns and cities are dotted with spectacular mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean’s bargain destinations with expected 25 million tourists for 2008.
With nearly 8400 km (5200 miles) of coastline, water sports and yachting are big favourites. Hiking, white-water rafting, mountain climbing and cycling are all important, and growing, as is skiing due to develop by 2010 in Seki, near Kemer - Fethiye.
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